APA..Newsletter # 3
National News..United Nations Human Rights Committee Criticises Guyana About Amerindian Rights

According to a press release issued by the United Nations on 31 March 2000, upon the conclusion of the 68^th session of the UN Human Rights Committee, Guyana is not living up to its human rights obligations with respect to Amerindians. This statement came after the Committee’s review of Guyana’s second periodic report on the measures it has taken to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This Covenant is one of the most important human rights treaties in the world. The Committee is made up of 18 experts in human rights elected by Governments. Guyana was represented at the meeting by a Government delegation.

Noting that Guyana’s report was twelve years over due, the Committee added that it "regretted the delay in amending the Amerindian Act and was concerned that members of indigenous Amerindian minority did not enjoy fully the right to equality before the law. It called on Government to ensure that there were effective measures of protection to enable members of indigenous Amerindian communities to participate in decisions that affected them and to enforce their rights under the Covenant."

In other words the Committee is saying that the law of Guyana discriminates against Amerindians and places us in a lower position than other Guyanese. It also said that something needs to be done to ensure that our rights are recognised in the law and that we are able to enforce those rights if necessary. Specifically, it urged that our right to participate in all decisions that affect us be included in the law and respected. This statement from the Human Rights Committee is consistent with statement from other United Nations human rights bodies like the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.